FULLERTON, CA—The campaign of Assembly District candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva released the following statement from retired Los Angeles County Assessor Kenneth P. Hahn confirming that current Assemblywoman Young Kim improperly claimed a homeowner’s exemption she wasn’t entitled to, resulting in unpaid taxes and a property lien from the Orange County tax collector.

“I have been asked whether Assemblywoman Young Kim was responsible for unpaid taxes for 2013 and 2014. The answer is undeniably yes,” said retired Los Angeles County Assessor Kenneth P. Hahn. “It is a fact that Young Kim received the Homeowner’s Exemption for a home she was no longer living in.

“The law is clear. Failure to receive notice from the US Postal Service does not absolve an individual from paying their taxes. A lien was appropriately placed on her home and the owed taxes were not paid until after they became a campaign issue. As a former elected official myself, I know we are and should be held to a higher standard,” concluded Hahn.

“It's unfortunate that Young Kim still will not accept responsibility for her own mistakes,” said Quirk-Silva campaign consultant Matt Reilly. “It is pretty simple: If she didn’t owe the money, why did she pay up when she got caught?”

Hahn was the top property tax official in Los Angeles County from 1990-2000.

FULLERTON, CA—The campaign of Assembly District candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva called on her opponent, Young Kim, to explain her actions after Kim was caught red-handed on property taxes she owed for a homeowner’s exemption she illegally claimed.

The Kim campaign issued a statement earlier denying that Kim had ‘illegally claimed a homeowners’ credit,’ calling the accusation “false” and saying that “her property taxes are paid in full.”

Her campaign left out an important detail: Young Kim admitted owing yesterday when she finally paid up on her taxes —but only after the Quirk-Silva campaign pointed out her being a tax deadbeat to voters. Then, instead of simply paying up and admitting to the back taxes, issued false denials.

“She finally paid the tax bills…how can they possibly imply she’s innocent?!” said Quirk-Silva consultant Matt Reilly. “Fact: Young Kim claimed a tax break she didn’t deserve. Fact: She pocketed the money. Fact: She only paid up when she got caught.”

“The truth is Young Kim needs to stop pulling a ‘Donald Trump’ and come clean to voters on her taxes,” Reilly continued. “And she has more than just unpaid taxes to account for. Her official economic filings, signed under penalty of perjury, are either omitting income or she is lying to the IRS about what she earned.”

“The solution is simple: After 165 days since first being asked to release your taxes, stop stonewalling the voters of Orange County and show them what you have to hide.”

FULLERTON, CA—Full-time classroom teacher Sharon Quirk-Silva reports that her campaign to recapture Assembly District 65 scored a primary election win of 8.6% in the final official vote count as announced by the Orange County Registrar of Voters as of Friday. On Election Night June 7th, Quirk-Silva had been leading by 6%. Since then, vote counting had steadily added to her margin of victory.

“The final tally shows that the 2014 General Election result was a skewed, outlier election dominated by conservative voters,” said Quirk-Silva. “More people will turn out in this presidential election year, better reflecting the true nature of this district.

The results set the stage for a pitched battle with Republican career politician Young Kim. Quirk-Silva beat Kim 54.3%-45.7% in the June 7th vote, a reversal from the 2014 primary, which Quirk-Silva lost by 9.4%. The new result shows a swing of 18% in Quirk-Silva’s favor.

"It’s time to engage the voters in a vigorous discussion of our priorities. I have a track record of delivering for the people of Orange County. My opponent has a record of not delivering for anyone except the most extreme elements of the Republican Party, and herself.

“I spent the past nine months teaching thirty-two 3rd graders who speak 5 different languages. One of my students was homeless and two others are on the edge of being homeless. I’m in touch with the issues confronting Californians as they struggle to achieve the American Dream, or even hold on to it.

“I will continue fighting for them and fighting to make California stronger so it can deliver on its promise of opportunity at a better life for anyone who is willing to work hard.”

Quirk-Silva’s performance was tops among Democrats challenging Republican incumbents across all Assembly candidates throughout the state. Democrats’ voter registration advantage surged in recent weeks in AD 65 and has tripled since the 2014 election.

Quirk-Silva has spent 30 years teaching in the Fullerton School District. She is the former Mayor of Fullerton and served in the Assembly from 2012-2014.

The 65th Assembly District includes Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma, Stanton and most of West Anaheim.

FULLERTON, CA—Full-time classroom teacher and 65th Assembly District candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva today issued the following statement marking the 38th anniversary of its passage on June 6, 1978:

“For 38 years, Proposition 13 has made California stronger. Seniors, families, and small businesses have all benefitted.

“Gone are the days of arbitrary and exorbitant property tax increases that stretched pocketbooks to the breaking point and increased volatility in the housing market.

“Prop. 13 brought relief to homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes like our senior citizens. It has kept property taxes stable, given voters the right to vote on other types of tax increases, and brought greater certainty to the housing market.

“Since announcing my candidacy for State Assembly last year, I have heard from many local residents about the need to protect Prop. 13. As a member of the Assembly, I will be a champion for Prop. 13 and will defend against any and all proposals to alter it in any way.”

Quirk-Silva currently teaches 3rd grade and has spent 30 years teaching in the Fullerton School District. She is the former Mayor of Fullerton and served in the Assembly from 2012-2014.

The 65th Assembly District includes Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma, Stanton and most of West Anaheim.

FULLERTON, CA—Full-time classroom teacher and 65th Assembly District candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva today heralded surging voter registration numbers that show Democrats adding to voter rolls in record numbers. In a six week period Democrats doubled their lead in voter share.

Voter registration figures over time as percentages of the total electorate in Assembly District 65 are as follows:

May 26, 2016: 38.9% Dem vs. 34.6% Rep (+4.3%)

April 8, 2016: 37.7% vs. 35.4% (+2.2%)

October 20, 2014: 37.2% to 35.6% (+1.6%)

The increase between the 2014 election and the numbers released by the Orange County Registrar of Voters show a near tripling of the Democratic advantage. Combined with the traditional surge in General Elections held in presidential election cycles bodes well for Democratic candidates in this district.

Quirk-Silva currently teaches 3rd grade and has spent 30 years teaching in the Fullerton School District. She is the former Mayor of Fullerton and served in the Assembly from 2012-2014.

The 65th Assembly District includes Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma, Stanton and most of West Anaheim.

“Donald Trump represents the kind of huckster politician that has no place in a civil democracy,” said Quirk-Silva. “He is another in a long line of political bullies who pits one group against another for his own gain.

“Too many people in this country are hurting or feel like the system is rigged against them. “The truth is Trump is a billionaire political insider who is one of the people who rigged it against them.

“He finds exploiting the pain of others perfectly acceptable, and he’s hoping to use people’s anxiety and turn them against the usual scapegoats of society – immigrants, the politically powerless, and the vulnerable.

“As leaders we must speak out when people's anxiety is used as a political weapon. As a community, as a society, we must reject Trump and the filth he spews on a daily basis.”

Quirk-Silva currently teaches 3rd grade and has spent 30 years teaching in the Fullerton School District. She is the former Mayor of Fullerton and served in the Assembly from 2012-2014.

The 65th Assembly District includes Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma, Stanton and most of West Anaheim.

FULLERTON, CA—Classroom teacher and 65th Assembly District candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva today announced her support of an agreement to raise California’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, which will be phased in through 2022. After that the minimum wage will be indexed to inflation, giving wage earners an automatic cost of living adjustment.

“Raising the minimum wage is a victory for hard working Californians who for too long have felt the pinch of stagnant wages and an ever-increasing cost of living,” said Quirk-Silva. “This is overdue, meaningful action to raise people up and toward the middle class.”

“My opponent’s vote against the minimum wage shows voters there is a clear contrast between us,” continued Quirk-Silva. “She puts her campaign contributors above hard-working families, and clearly is out of touch with how much it costs to live in Orange County.

“I’m a school teacher who thinks an honest wage for an honest day’s work makes California stronger and that every hard-working Californian deserves a fair shot at the American Dream.”

Quirk-Silva currently teaches 3rd grade full-time and has spent 30 years teaching in the Fullerton School District. She is the former Mayor of Fullerton and served in the Assembly from 2012-2014.

The 65th Assembly District includes Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma, Stanton and most of West Anaheim.

Quirk-Silva Challenges Developer to Detail Its Proposed Land Swap to Build Veteran's Cemetery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Reilly, (916) 201-9636

FULLERTON, CA—Full-time classroom teacher and 65th Assembly District candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva today challenged developer FivePoint to provide more details on its proposed land swap to meet the commitment under state law she authored to find an appropriate location for a veteran’s cemetery that serves the needs of Orange County.

FivePoint recently announced an offer to trade land previously identified for the cemetery north of the Great Park at the former El Toro Naval Base for land owned by the company to the south. Quirk-Silva expressed her disappointment that FivePoint’s offer comes only now, after much time and taxpayer money has been expended.

“The men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this nation deserve proper recognition without further delay; and, the taxpayers of Orange County need to know they will not be asked to foot the bill for big land developers,” said Quirk-Silva. “I urge all parties to proceed with these two goals in mind.”

AB 1453 which was adopted and signed by the Governor in 2014 recognized the northern site as the only viable option at the time for this long-overdue project. Quirk-Silva called on FivePoint to put a detailed offer in writing immediately if they believe they can offer an alternative location.

Quirk-Silva added, “Members of the public deserve the right to review FivePoint’s proposal and ask questions. This is the only way the community can have confidence decisions are being made based on their best interests of all, and not to enrich the pocketbooks of a few.”

FULLERTON, CA—Full-time classroom teacher and 65th Assembly District candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva today announced raising over $213,000 for her election campaign and reported having over $175,000 cash on hand to end 2015. Her totals made her the top fundraiser among Democratic Assembly candidates challenging a Republican incumbent.

“I am so grateful for all the support people have given this past year,” said Quirk-Silva. “I’ll continue working hard and preparing for a spirited campaign this year.”

“Sharon’s doing a great job on the campaign trail, especially considering she spends most of her day in a classroom teaching 32 students who speak 5 different languages,” said Assembly Speaker-elect and former CSU Fullerton adjunct professor Anthony Rendon. “Her hard work has not gone unnoticed.”

Quirk-Silva currently teaches 3rd grade and has spent 30 years teaching in the Fullerton School District. She is the former Mayor of Fullerton and served in the Assembly from 2012-2014.

The 65th Assembly District includes Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma, Stanton and most of West Anaheim.